The Navy resigned from most of the costly weapons systems
and equipment. Apart from rendering a lower cost, this was also
to accelerate the progress of work. This did not happen. After nu-
merous delays, the „Patrol Corvette" was commissioned in 2018.
COASTAL DEFENSE VESSELS, CORVETTES, FRIGATES
- MIECZNIK PROGRAMME IN THREE ACTS
The fiasco of the Gawron program did not mean that the require-
ments of the Polish Navy in the surface combatants were met
- obviously. Unfortunately, the fiasco-associated trauma, along
with the lack of awareness of the role the sea plays for natio-
nal security at the level of politics, altogether translated into a
lack of approval for any new procurement effort. This trend was
expressed by PM Donald Tusk, who stated that „we do not need
so large combat platforms on the Baltic Sea". The Navy respon-
ded by launching the first Miecznik Programme - it was to result
in the acquisition of three multi-role surface combatants, euphe-
mistically referred to as OOW - Coastal Defense Vessel. Realisti-
cally, the three aforesaid vessels were to belong to the type of
modern missile corvettes - the same as the jinxed Ślązak. The
analytical-conceptual phase of this program began in 2013. And
during that phase, the requirements were redefined once again.
Three corvettes referred to as the Coastal Defense Vessels were
joined by another three vessels utilizing the very same hull as a
www.fragoutmag.com
